Modular Pier Structure

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to pier structures for large bodies of water, and in particular relates to a modular pier structure.

BACKGROUND

Piers and dock structures play a critical role in providing access to bodies of water, serving both recreational and commercial purposes. Traditionally, piers are designed to facilitate safe docking, loading, and unloading of watercraft, as well as to support other waterfront activities.

Piers situated on large bodies of water, commonly known as “big water” piers, face unique challenges due to seasonal environmental changes, particularly in colder climates where ice movements pose significant threats to structural integrity. These ice forces, coupled with larger wave sizes associated with large bodies of water, can impose severe stresses on pier structures, potentially leading to deformation, misalignment, or even failure.

Conventional pier designs frequently lack the robustness required to endure the extreme pressures exerted by shifting ice. Standard piers may employ basic support geometries and materials that are suitable for temperate conditions but are insufficient when subjected to repeated ice-related stresses. As a result, such structures often require frequent repairs or reinforcements, which can be costly and disruptive.

Furthermore, existing piers may not incorporate features that facilitate adaptability to varying water levels and user requirements, limiting their functionality in diverse applications. In particular, many piers are not designed with modularity in mind, complicating installation, customization, and maintenance efforts. This lack of flexibility can reduce their effectiveness in both private and commercial settings where adaptability is valuable.

There is, therefore, a need for a more resilient pier structure that can withstand the substantial forces associated with ice movements in large bodies of water. A solution that combines robust materials with innovative structural geometries would provide enhanced durability, stability, and longevity in cold-climate regions. Such a pier would not only resist ice-related stresses but would also offer modular features for ease of installation and customization, addressing the requirements of various users and applications.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a pier structure configured to be used in large bodies of water may be provided. The pier structure may comprise a pair of pipes configured to be driven into a bed, a pier section connected to the pair of pipes. The pier section may include a substructure with a plurality of braces arranged in “X” and “W” configurations, the plurality of braces configured to provide distributed stress absorption throughout the substructure. The pier section may include an H-frame formed from a horizontal support member coupled to vertical support members, the vertical support members configured to slide over the pair of pipes.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a pier section configured to be assembled into a pier structure for large body of water may be provided. The pier section may comprise a substructure with a plurality of braces arranged in “X” and “W” configurations, the plurality of braces are configured to provide distributed stress absorption throughout the substructure. The pier section may comprise an H-frame connected to the substructure formed from a horizontal support member coupled to vertical support members.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of assembling a pier structure configured to be used in large bodies of water may be provided. The method may comprise providing a pier section, the pier section constructed with a substructure including a plurality of braces arranged in “X” and “W” configurations configured to provide distributed stress absorption throughout the substructure, and an H-frame formed from a horizontal support member coupled to vertical support members. The method may comprise disposing the pier section in a predetermined location on a shore of the large body of water. The method may comprise sliding a pair of pipes through the vertical support members of the pier section. The method may comprise driving the pair of pipes into a bed of the large body of water, such that the pier section remains in place.

These and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an H-frame constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pier structure constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a pier structure constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a pier structure constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a pier structure constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pier structure constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the pier section of FIG. 10 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a pier section constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart depicting a sample sequence of steps for assembling a pier structure configured to be used in large bodies of water, which may be practiced in accordance with the pier section of the present disclosure.

The figures depict one embodiment of the presented invention for purpose of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize form the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and method illustrated herein may be employed without departing form the principles described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, a pier section is depicted and generally referred to using reference numeral 10. The pier section 10 is exemplarily embodied as a framed rectangular substructure for use in large bodies of fresh water. While the pier section 10 is depicted as such, it should be noted that the depiction used is merely exemplary and illustrative in nature. It will be acknowledged that the teachings of the present disclosure can be similarly applied to other modular pier structures for use in bodies of water of any size and of any type as known to persons skilled in the art.

The pier section 10 may comprise a substructure 20 forming a walkable surface. The substructure 20 may comprise a plurality of braces arranged in “X” and “W” configurations, the plurality of braces being configured to provide distributed stress absorption throughout the substructure 20. The substructure 20 may comprise a front end 24, a rear end 25, a left side 22, a right side 21, and a middle bar 23. Each of the front end, the rear end 25, the left side 22, the right side 21, and the middle bar 23 may be attached to one another as depicted in the primary embodiment of FIG. 1 to form the substructure 20. Additional structural rigidity may be added to the substructure 20 through gussets 50 connecting the right side 21 and the left side 22 to the rear end 25. Each component of the substructure 20 may be attached by welding, through the use of fasteners, or securely attached by any other means as known.

The substructure 20 may comprise a crossbar 26 to provide additional rigidity. As depicted in FIG. 1, the substructure 20 includes two of the crossbar 26, however, greater or fewer of the crossbar 26 may be implemented as required. The crossbar 26 may span a width of the substructure 20 as depicted, extending from the left side 22 to the right side 21. The crossbar 26 may be attached to the substructure 20 through welding in the position shown, or may be attached by any other means as known in any other location as required.

The substructure 20 may also comprise a deck bar 27. As depicted in FIG. 1, the substructure 20 includes three of the deck bar 27, however, greater or fewer of the deck bar 27 may also be implemented as required. The deck bar 27 may span a length of the substructure 20, extending from the front end 24 to the rear end 25. The deck bar 27 may also be attached to the substructure 20 through welding in the position shown, or may be attached by any other means as known in any other location as required.

The substructure 20 of the pier section 10 may comprise an “X” configuration for the plurality of braces. As depicted in FIG. 1, the “X” configuration may further comprise a first pair of braces 28 extending from a center portion of the middle bar 23 to opposing ends of the rear end 25. As with other components of the substructure 20, the first pair of braces 28 may be attached through welding, or may be attached by another other means as known.

The substructure 20 of the pier section 10 may also comprise a “W” configuration for the plurality of braces. As depicted in FIG. 1, the “W” configuration may further comprise a second pair of braces 29 extending from the center portion of the middle bar 23 to opposing ends of the front end 24, and an first angled brace 40 extending from the middle bar 23 to an H-frame 30. The first angled brace 40 is an optional component, and may be provided when the “W” configuration may need increased rigidity. The second pair of braces 29 may also be attached through welding, or any other means as known or required.

The pier section 10 may also comprise the H-frame 30 connected to the substructure 20 formed from vertical support members 31, 32. Optionally, the H-frame 30 may further comprise a horizontal support member 33 coupled between the vertical support members 31, 32. In the “W” configuration of the plurality of braces, the first angled brace 40 may extend from the middle bar 23 to the horizontal support member 33 at an angle α (FIG. 5). As depicted in FIGS. 1-2, the H-frame 30 may also include top gussets 34 and bottom gussets 35 for adding additional rigidity to the connection between the horizontal support member 33 and the vertical support members 31, 32. Each of the components of the H-frame 30 may be welded to one another, or may be attached through any other means as known.

The H-frame 30 may be attached the substructure 20 via gussets 60 as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3. The gussets 60 may be attached to the vertical support members 31, 32, the right side 21, the left side 22, and the front end 24. In the primary embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, each of these components are securely attached to one another using methods such as welding, and may allow the pier section 10 to be delivered in a prebuilt configuration, requiring no additional assembly from a user.

FIGS. 11-12 depict an alternate embodiment of a pier section 400. The pier section 400 includes similar elements to the pier section 10, however, rather than utilizing the gussets 60 of the pier section 10, the pier section 400 may comprise a mounting bar 460 connecting each of a left side 422 and a right side 421 to a front end 424. An H-frame 430 may be connected to the pier section 400 by welding vertical support members 431, 432 to the front end 424, the left side 422, the right side 421, and two of the mounting bar 460 in the configuration depicted in FIGS. 11-12 such that a space 461 is formed. A gusset 462 may be provided at each opposing side of the front end 424 where the front end 424 meets the right side 421 and the left side 422 in order to provide additional structural rigidity.

In some embodiments of the pier section, the H-frame may be removably attached to the substructure via fasteners. FIGS. 13-14 depict an alternate embodiment of a pier section 500 with an H-frame 530 that is removably attached. The pier section 500 also includes similar elements to the pier section 10, and the pier section 400. The pier section 500 includes a front end 524, a left side 522, and a right side 521, similar to those of the pier section 10. However, the pier section 500 further comprises an attachment bar 561 spaced from the front end 524 by a right spacer 564, a center spacer 565, and a left spacer 566. As with the pier section 10, a deck bar 527 may be installed on top of the front end 524, the attachment bar 561, and any of the spacers. In the depicting of FIG. 13, there are three of the deck bar 527, each corresponding to the location of the right spacer 564, the center spacer 565, and the left spacer 566. To add additional structural rigidity to the attachment bar 561, a mounting bar 560 may be disposed such that it extends from a center portion of the attachment bar 561 to one of the left side 522 or the right side 521. As depicted in FIGS. 13-14, there are two of the mounting bar 560, each extending to one side of the pier section 500. The pier section 500 may comprise a left attachment plate 568 and a right attachment plate 567, each having a plurality of holes 569. In order to attach the H-frame 530, each of the vertical supports 531, 532 may have a frame attachment plate 533. The frame attachment plate 533 may be welded onto the vertical supports 531, 532, and may be additionally supported by any number of a plurality of gussets 534 about the periphery of the vertical supports 531, 532. The frame attachment plate 533 may comprise a plurality of holes 536 corresponding to, and aligning with the plurality of holes 569 of the left attachment plate 568 and the right attachment plate 567. A plurality of fasteners 535 may be disposed through the plurality of holes 536 of the frame attachment plate 533 and the plurality of holes 569 of the left attachment plate 568 and the right attachment plate 567, thereby attaching the H-frame 530. While depicted as threaded fasteners in FIG. 14, the plurality of fasteners 535 may be any fastener as known or required. Additionally, the H-frame 530 may be removably attached to the pier section 500 using any removable attachment means as known.

Once the pier section 10 has been installed, a user may wish to provide finishing for the pier section 10. Thus, the pier section 10 may comprise a plurality of fascia boards 80 configured to be attached about a periphery of the substructure. FIG. 4 illustrates the pier section 10 with the plurality of fascia boards 80 installed about the periphery. The plurality of fascia boards 80 may include a front fascia board 81, a rear fascia board 82, a left fascia board 83, and a right fascia board 84. The plurality of fascia boards 80 may be installed onto the substructure 20 as illustrated in FIG. 5. Each of the plurality of fascia boards 80 may be attached via fasteners 86 in various locations along a height of each of the plurality of fascia boards 80. Other methods of attaching the plurality of fascia boards 80 may be utilized as known. Similarly, the pier section 10 may comprise a plurality of decking boards 90 configured to be attached to the top of the substructure 20.

FIG. 6 depicts a pier structure 14 as fully installed into a bed 13 of a large body of water 12. The pier structure 14 may be attached at one end to a shore 11. In some embodiments the shore 11 may include a concrete pad, wherein the pier structure 14 may affixed to the concrete pad with fasteners. In other embodiments, the shore 11 may be a grass shore, wherein additional pipes may be pounded into the shore 11 and connected to the pier structure 14. At the other end, the pier structure 14 may comprise a pair of pipes 15 configured to be driven into the bed 13, with the pier section 10 connected to the pair of pipes 15. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the vertical support members 31, 32 of the H-frame 30 are configured to slide over the pair of pipes 15. The pier structure 14 may comprise wherein the vertical support members 31, 32 are fixed to the pair of pipes 15. As depicted in FIG. 2, the vertical support members 31, 32 are fixed to the pair of pipes 15 by a set screw 76 configured to be disposed into a threaded hole 75 on each of the vertical support members 31, 32, and create contact with the pair of pipes 15. However, other clamp members as known may also be utilized. The vertical support members 31, 32 may also be fixed to the pair of pipes 15 by welding or other fixation means as known.

FIG. 6 depicts the pier structure 14 as formed from a single one of the pier section 10, and a single one of the pair of pipes 15. In other embodiments, the pier structure 14 may comprise a plurality of the pair of pipes 15, and a plurality of the pier section 10, each of the plurality of the pier section 10 configured to slide onto a corresponding pair of the plurality of the pair of pipes 15. FIGS. 6-8 depict alternate embodiments of the pier structure 14 wherein several of the pier section 10 may be configured to be connected to several of the pair of pipes 15 in specific orientations. FIG. 7 depicts a pier structure 100 with two of the pier section 10, while FIG. 8 depicts a pier structure 200 in an L-configuration, with six of the pier section 10 arranged as depicted.

In order to provide rigidity to pier structures having several of the pier section 10, each of the plurality of the pier section 10 may be configured to be interconnected. As depicted in FIG. 1, the pier section 10 may comprise holes 70 in the front end 24 and the rear end 25, into which fasteners may be disposed to connect several of the pier section 10. Additional ones of the holes 70 may be provided in the left side 22 and the right side 21 as necessary to create other configurations of the pier structure. While the interconnection is depicted as the holes 70 interacting with fasteners, other means of interconnection between the plurality of the pier section 10 may be utilized as known. Additionally, multiple forms of fastening may be utilized as necessary. For example, the interconnection may comprise both fasteners disposed within the holes 70 and welding between several of the pier section 10.

Additional structural rigidity may be required once several of the pier section 10 are interconnected. In order to provide the additional structural rigidity, the pier structure may comprise a second angled brace configured to connect one of the plurality of the pier section 10 to a subsequent one of the plurality of the pier section 10. FIGS. 9-10 depict an alternate embodiment of a pier structure 300. The pier structure 300 may comprise two of the pier section 310. The second angled brace 340 may be connected from a middle bar 323 of one of the pier section 310 to a horizontal support 333 of an H-frame 330 of a subsequent of the pier section 310. As with the first angled brace 40, the second angled brace 340 is also an optional component, and may be attached to the pier structure 300 as necessary. The second angled brace 340 may also be connected by welding, or any other means as known.

In pier structures utilizing several of the pier section 10, it may be desirable to attach fascia boards around the periphery, and attach decking boards to a top surface. FIG. 9 depicts a plurality of fascia boards 380 on the pier structure 300. The plurality of fascia boards 380 of the pier structure 300 may be constructed and attached in a similar manner to the plurality of fascia boards 80 of the pier structure 14, requiring only fascia boards that are necessary to surround a periphery of the pier structure 300.

Industrial Applicability

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the technology disclosed herein has industrial applicability in a variety of settings such as, but not limited to large bodies of water. While depicted and described in conjunction with a lake, such teachings can also find applicability with other settings in a wide variety of bodies of water.

FIG. 14 illustrates a visual representation of a method 600 of assembling the pier structure 14 configured to be used in large bodies of water. The pier section 10 used in the pier structure 14 may be assembled on site, or may arrive pre-assembled. The pier section 10 is provided as depicted, constructed with the substructure 20 including the plurality of braces arranged in “X” and “W” configurations configured to provide distributed stress absorption throughout the substructure 20. The pier section 10 includes the H-frame 30 formed from vertical support members 31, 32, the vertical support members 31, 32 configured to slide over the pair of pipes 15. Optionally, the H-frame may further comprise the horizontal support member 33 coupled between the vertical support members 31, 32.

In a first step 601, the substructure 20 may be assembled from the front end, the rear end 25, the left side 22, the right side 21, and the middle bar 23. In a second step 602, the “X” configuration may be formed by attaching the first pair of braces 28 to the substructure 20, and in a third step 603, the “W” configuration may be formed by attaching the second pair of braces 29 to the substructure 20. Additionally, the gussets 50 and the gussets 60 may be attached to the substructure 20. Optionally, the first angled brace 40 may be connected from the middle bar 23 to the horizontal support member 33.

In a fourth step 604, the H-frame may be assembled and joined with the substructure 20. In some embodiments, the joining is accomplished via welding the vertical support members 31, 32 to the gussets 60, however, in other embodiments such as pier section 500, the H-frame 530 is attached via a removable connection.

In a fifth step 605, the pier section 10 may be secured to a starting location. The starting location may be a predetermined location on the shore 11 of the large body of water 12, and the pier section 10 may be attached at a first end to the shore 11. In some embodiments the shore 11 may include a concrete pad, wherein the pier structure 14 may affixed to, the concrete pad with fasteners. In other embodiments, the shore 11 may be a grass shore, wherein additional pipes may be pounded into the shore 11 and connected to the pier structure 14.

In a sixth step 606, the pair of pipes 15 may be slid through the vertical support members 31, 32 and driven into the bed 13, such that the pier section 10 remains in place. In a seventh step 607, the pier section 10 may be secured to the pair of pipes 15 by threading the set screw 76 through the threaded hole 75 on each of the vertical support members 31, 32 until the set screw 76 makes contact with the pair of pipes 15. The vertical support members 31, 32 may also be fixed to the pair of pipes 15 by welding or other fixation means as known.

The user may predetermine that a specific configuration of the pier structure 14 may be desired utilizing several of the pier section 10. In an eighth step 608, the user determines if additional ones of the pier section 10 are required to fully assemble the pier structure 14. If so, in a ninth step 609, the first step 601 through the eighth step 608 are repeated. Additional ones of the pier section 10 are assembled, and in the fifth step 605, the additional ones of the pier section 10 are first joined to previously secured ones of the pier section 10. As depicted, joining may be accomplished by providing fasteners extending through the holes 70, however, any other joining means as known may be utilized. While described as assembled on site, the pier section 10 may also be assembled prior to delivery to the shore 11. In this case, the first step 601 through the fourth step 604 are already completed, and in the ninth step 609, ones of the pier section 10 that have been previously assembled are attached as described in the fifth step 605. Once the additional ones of the pier section 10 are secured, additional ones of the pair of pipes 15 are fitted through the additional ones of the pier section 10, and driven into the bed 13. The additional ones of the pier section 10 are then secured to the additional ones of the pair of pipes 15 as described in the seventh step 607.

Finally, in order to provide finishing to the pier structure 14, in an tenth step 610h, the plurality of fascia boards 80 may be attached about a periphery of the substructure 20 of the pier section 10. The plurality of decking boards 90 may also be provided and attached to a top surface of the substructure 20 of the pier section 10.

The method 600 of assembling the pier structure 14 provides for a simple and effective means for assembling a pier structure in any configuration using modular components. The pier section 10 is configured to stand up to the forces of large waves and ice formations typically present in large bodies of water. In the depicted configuration, each of the elements may be constructed of tubular or plate steel in order to facilitate welding of the components. However, other materials may be used as required. The method 600 can be adapted to any body of water, using other construction materials adapted to withstand greater water salinity.

It should be evident that this disclosure is by way of example and that various changes may be made by adding, modifying or eliminating details without departing from the fair scope of the teaching contained in this disclosure. The invention is therefore not limited to particular details of this disclosure except to the extent that the following claims are necessarily so limited.